Youdu raised a hand.
Black demonic mist poured from his sleeve.
Instead of rushing directly at the crowd, the mist spread outward through the academy.
Wherever it passed, twisted faces emerged on the walls.
There were members of the Dragon Clan, the Phoenix Clan, the Qilin Clan, and smaller Northern Sea clans among them.
They were all phantoms of resentment left behind by those who had died in the Great Tribulation.
"Do you see?"
Youdu's voice was icy.
"Your so-called Abyss rules merely press hatred onto paper."
"The Book of Cause and Effect can record grudges, but it cannot bring back the dead."
"The Calamity-Resolution Hall can pass judgment, but it cannot make those who lost their kin forget their pain."
"As long as hatred remains, the Demonic Dao remains."
After the demonic mist spread, the academy disciples' faces turned pale.
Heart Demon illusions reappeared before many of them.
Young Dragon Clan cultivators saw their clansmen being burned by Phoenix Fire.
Frost Phoenix disciples saw dragon claws tearing apart Cold Roost Island.
Water Qilin disciples saw the battlefield of the earth veins reduced to ruins by the Dragon and Phoenix Clans.
Some disciples from smaller clans saw the iron cavalry of the three clans trample across their homeland.
Fear, hatred, and suspicion were endlessly magnified in that instant.
Han Jue clenched his teeth.
He had only just awakened from his Heart Demon, and he knew that feeling better than anyone.
"We can't let the demonic mist keep spreading."
Ao Lie said gravely, "Fight the demons first."
Those four words fell.
Han Jue paused slightly.
Then he smiled.
"We should have done that long ago."
Feng Li spread her wings, and Frostflame spread across the ground, freezing the edges of the demonic mist.
Lin Yue stomped down.
He drew upon the power of Mysterious Peak Mountain's earth veins, turning it into a ring of yellow light that protected the academy's main hall.
Ao Lie assumed a half-dragon form. Blackwater dragon qi condensed into a dragon shape and charged straight at Youdu.
Han Jue led the Realm Guard forward.
"Three hundred Realm Guard members, form the Black Tortoise Formation!"
The three hundred Realm Guard elites swiftly formed ranks.
They had practiced this formation countless times at Dragon-Suppressing Pass.
Though they were inside the academy now, they still deployed it quickly.
A phantom Black Tortoise emerged, shielding the disciples behind them.
As Youdu watched the four act, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
"You reacted faster than I expected."
He had originally thought that once he stirred up old grudges, Ao Lie and Han Jue would surely fight each other first.
Feng Li and Lin Yue would also be dragged into it.
Yet after the Emperor's Mind-Cleansing Tortoise Cry shattered their Heart Demons, these four young people had immediately turned their blades on him.
Especially Ao Lie's words: "Fight the demons first."
Simple.
Direct.
Yet they had stabilized the situation.
Youdu sneered.
"Then let's see how long you can hold out."
The black mist behind him suddenly condensed into a massive demonic shadow.
The shadow extended a hand and grabbed at Ao Lie.
Instead of retreating, Ao Lie advanced.
Blackwater dragon qi transformed into dragon claws and collided with the demonic palm.
Boom!
Ao Lie was forced back several steps.
The demonic shadow also swayed.
Han Jue seized the opportunity, thrusting his spear like icy lightning.
The spear tip pierced through the demonic mist and stabbed directly toward Youdu's brow.
Youdu raised a hand and caught the spear tip between two fingers.
"Your killing intent is strong enough."
"You're the most suitable for demonic corruption."
Han Jue's gaze turned cold.
"Shut up."
He forcibly activated his Ice-Scale Bloodline, and the spear's icy radiance surged.
A layer of frost formed over Youdu's fingers.
Feng Li's Frostflame descended immediately afterward.
Her Frostflame differed from Han Jue's Ice-Scale power.
It possessed the essence of the Phoenix Clan's divine fire, yet was cold to the extreme.
Youdu frowned slightly, released the spear tip, and drifted backward.
Lin Yue was already waiting there.
He formed hand seals with both hands.
The earth veins became three yellow chains that surged up from beneath Youdu's feet and wrapped around him.
Youdu's figure scattered into dozens of demonic shadows.
"Too slow."
All the demonic shadows spoke at once.
Around the academy, the demonic mist churned again.
No one could distinguish which one was his true body.
Lan Shuang stood above the academy, the Book of Cause and Effect floating before her.
"Illuminate."
Black-and-white radiance descended.
Among the dozens of demonic shadows, one bore the deepest karmic thread.
Lan Shuang pointed.
"Third from the left."
Han Jue did not hesitate.
"Ao Lie!"
Ao Lie understood at once.
Blackwater dragon qi condensed into a long river, blocking Youdu's retreat.
Feng Li's Frostflame sealed off the sky above.
Lin Yue's earth-vein chains sealed the ground below.
Han Jue thrust his spear straight ahead.
At that moment, the four worked together with extraordinary fluidity.
Youdu's expression changed for the first time.
He had never expected that four young people from entirely different backgrounds, burdened by such deep old grudges, could form an encirclement so quickly.
More troublesome still, each of their powers happened to counter part of his demonic qi.
Ao Lie's Blackwater dragon qi was fierce and domineering, capable of dispersing demonic mist.
Feng Li's Frostflame could freeze Heart Demon illusions.
Lin Yue's earth veins could stabilize the surroundings and prevent the demonic mist from continuing to erode them.
Han Jue possessed the strongest killing power, responsible for breaking through the demonic shadow head-on.
With the Book of Cause and Effect guiding them as well,
it was no longer so easy for Youdu to toy with them.
Han Jue's spear pierced the demonic shadow through the chest.
Boom!
The first layer of the demonic shadow exploded.
Black mist billowed as Youdu's true body staggered backward.
An ice-blue crack appeared across his chest.
Though demonic qi quickly repaired it, it proved that their attacks had injured him.
The academy disciples immediately erupted in cheers.
"They hit him!"
"Commander Han hit that demonic cultivator!"
"His Highness Ao Lie and Fellow Daoist Feng Li work together so quickly!"
"Fellow Daoist Lin Yue sealed the earth veins! That demonic cultivator can't escape!"
Ao Lie glanced at Han Jue.
"Not bad."
Han Jue flicked his spear.
"You're not bad either."
Feng Li said calmly, "Continue."
Lin Yue nodded.
"Don't let him disperse the demonic mist again."
Listening to their exchange, Youdu's expression darkened.
He suddenly realized that his attempt to sow discord might have helped them instead.
After Han Jue had nearly fallen to demonic corruption, they had all seen the cracks in their own hearts.
Instead, they had become more vigilant than before.
They also understood more clearly who they should be fighting now.
Youdu gave a low laugh.
"Very good."
"Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin in one formation."
"And a Abyss Guardian Team besides."
"What kind of cursed place is Abyss?"
As his voice fell, his gray robe exploded.
A surge of demonic qi far stronger than before erupted from within him.
His Taiyi Demon Body was revealed.
Black demonic patterns crawled across his cheeks.
The demonic shadow behind him transformed into a three-headed, six-armed figure holding phantoms of a demonic blade, demonic banner, demonic bell, demonic hook, and more.
The sky above the academy instantly darkened.
Youdu's aura rose steadily.
Early Taiyi Golden Immortal.
Mid Supreme Unity Golden Immortal.
It finally stopped at Late Supreme Unity Golden Immortal.
Han Jue's face sank.
"This bastard hid himself well."
Ao Lie said coldly, "The Demon Shadow Talisman suppressed his true aura."
Feng Li drew back her Frostflame, guarding the academy disciples.
The earth veins beneath Lin Yue's feet lit up again, preventing the academy's formation foundation from being corroded by demonic qi.
Youdu looked down at them, his voice grim.
"I originally only intended to ignite your Heart Demons."
"Since I've been exposed, I'll destroy this academy."
"Abyss wants to teach the three clans to let go of their old grudges."
"Then I'll let you watch this place become a new Vengeful Soul Pool."
As his words fell,
the demonic bell rang.
Countless Demonic Sha burst forth from behind him and charged straight at Abyss Academy.
Han Jue roared in fury.
"Realm Guard!"
"Defend the Academy!"
Three hundred Realm Guard members raised their shields in unison.
The phantom of the Black Tortoise stood before the Academy.
Ao Lie, Feng Li, and Lin Yue attacked at the same time.
For the first time, the power of the three clans truly merged with Abyss's formation.
A Blackwater Dragon phantom coiled around the left side of the Black Tortoise phantom.
The Frost Phoenix's Frostflame condensed on the right.
The Water Qilin's earth veins supported the formation's foundation.
Han Jue stood at the very front with his spear.
A brand-new combined formation phantom slowly took shape above the Academy.
It resembled the Black Tortoise.
Yet it also seemed like Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin encircled one another.
Lan Shuang's heart shook at the sight.
This was not the formation of any single clan.
This was Abyss's own formation.
The demonic light in Youdu's eyes suddenly contracted.
"Damn it."
"You can actually combine your formations!"
Deep within Abyss.
Lu Chen saw it as well.
He had been somewhat worried before.
But when he saw the combined formation take shape, his eyes brightened slightly.
"These little ones finally look somewhat decent."
The system's voice sounded shortly afterward.
"Abyss's younger generation has formed the Three-Clan Guardian Formation for the first time."
"Abyss Academy's Fortune has increased."
"Please continue dealing with Demonic Sha contamination."
Lu Chen's rising sense of relief instantly turned into a headache.
Because the Demonic Sha released by Youdu had already begun spreading toward the Northern Darkness Sea.
If this thing truly contaminated the Northern Darkness Sea, even the Abyssal Womb Membrane would be affected.
Just as Lu Chen prepared to use the Abyss Dharma Body.
Deep within the Northern Darkness Sea, a dark soul pearl suddenly trembled violently.
Sea Devourer's voice came through.
"Emperor."
"Leave this Demonic Sha to me."